(A) In compliance with Section 22-3-20(2) and Article 11 of this chapter, actions in the nature of interpleader arising from real estate contracts for the recovery of earnest money, in which the value of the money that is the subject of the action does not exceed the jurisdictional limit of the magistrates court, may be filed in magistrates court under the provisions of this section. The fee for an action in the nature of interpleader filed in magistrates court is as provided in Section 8-21-1010(6) with service fees as provided by law.
(B) The failure of a competing claimant to recover in an interpleader action must not be considered as a judgment against the claimant and must not be used to impair the credit of the claimant.
(C) The Office of Court Administration must design appropriate legal forms for proceeding under this section and make those forms available for distribution.
HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 184, Section 2.